Printer and method for controlling same

ABSTRACT

A printer having storing means storing time information indicating the time at which cleaning operations were last performed, with the initial value of time information stored in the storing means being set to a time later than the shipment of the printer. Elapsed time between the time information stored in the storing means and the current time is calculated when a user gives the printer an instruction to start printing operations. The printer performs suitable cleaning operation for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printer for performing printing on arecording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to aprinter that is connected to an information processing apparatus actingas a host and performs printing on the basis of data transmitted fromthe information processing apparatus. The present invention furtherrelates to both a method for synchronizing time information transmittedfrom the information processing apparatus and the time information ofthe printer and a method for performing preprinting preparationoperations by using the time information, which allows the user toperform printing with stability when he/she performs printing for thefirst time after he/she has bought the printer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some printers that perform printing on a recording medium performpredetermined preliminary operations before performing actual printingoperations.

For example, an ink-jet printer that performs printing by using anink-jet head, which ejects ink onto a recording medium, has ahead-cleaning system. The head cleaning system is used for preventingthe ink from drying when it is not used and choking the nozzle of theink-jet head. For maintaining a good printing quality, head cleaningincluding a suction operation and a preliminary ejection operation isperformed at predetermined time intervals. In many cases, the headcleaning is automatically performed at the start of printing. That is tosay, the printing triggers the head cleaning.

It takes much time until the printing is started after the user givesthe instruction to start printing, since it takes much time for theprinter to become ready to start printing after performing many kinds ofdata processing. Further, the above-described head cleaning or the headmaintenance can be performed after the printer is ready to startprinting after it develops the print data to the buffer thereof.Therefore, the time required until the start of printing is determinedby adding the time required for the head cleaning to the time requiredfor the data processing. Accordingly, the time from when the user givesthe printer his/her instruction to start printing until the completionof printing becomes long.

An invention for solving the above-described problem is disclosed inJapanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-163225. According to the invention,when a user gives a printer an instruction to start printing, a hostthat is an information processing apparatus (including a personalcomputer) transmits a preprinting notice signal to the printer beforetransmitting print data thereto. The printer translates the signalreceived via the communication means thereof. When the translation showsthat the signal instructs the printer to perform preprinting preparationoperations, the printer starts performing the preprinting preparationoperations, such as cleaning required for performing printing, beforereceiving the print data. When the signal sent to the printer is theprint data, the printer performs printing on the basis of the printdata.

The preprinting notice signal transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus may include time information, an instruction toperform a preliminary operation, resolution of print area, image size,type of paper, feeding method, and so forth. Recently, the ink-jetprinter, which is connected to the host and has communication means,calculates the non-operating time thereof by using the time informationand performs cleaning including suction, preliminary ejection, and soforth corresponding to the calculated non-operating time. Incidentally,when the printer has a timer, which is used for measuring thenon-operating time, and performs suction by using it, these operationsare referred to as timer suction.

The above-described printer, which has the communication means forcommunicating with the information processing apparatus, uses the timeinformation transmitted from the information processing apparatus sothat the printer can perform preprinting preliminary operationscorresponding to the non-operating time of the printer when the AC powersupply of the printer is turned off. However, when the informationprocessing apparatus transmits the time information to the printer forthe first time after the user bought the printer, the printer cannotperform the preprinting preparation operations properly. This is becausethe printer does not have information about the time between theshipment time thereof and the time when the user will operate theprinter for the first time after the purchase thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, a printer according to an aspect of the present inventionperforms printing operations on a recording medium. The printingoperations are performed on the basis of the data transmitted from aninformation processing apparatus. The printer comprises a preprintingpreparation unit for performing predetermined preparation operations.The predetermined preparation operations are performed before theprinting operations are performed. The printer further comprises astoring unit for storing first time information indicating the time whenthe predetermined preparation operations were last performed. Theprinter further comprises a controlling unit that receives second timeinformation about the current time transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus. The control unit also calculates the time elapsedbetween the time indicated by the first time information, representingthe time when the predetermined preparation operations were lastperformed, and the time indicated by the second time information,representing the current time, and controls the predeterminedpreparation operations on the basis of the elapsed time. The printerfurther comprises an information-updating unit for updating the firsttime information stored in the storing unit at the time when thepredetermined preparation operations are performed. The controlling unitcontrols the predetermined preparation operations irrespective ofwhether the value of the elapsed time is calculated to be positive ornegative.

Preferably, the initial value of the first time information of thestoring unit may be set to a time later than the shipment time of theprinter.

Preferably, the initial value of the first time information stored inthe storing unit may be set to a time determined by adding apredetermined time to the shipment time of the printer.

Preferably, the initial value of the first time information stored inthe storing unit may be set to a time later than a period in which theprinter is expected to be used, and the calculated value of the elapsedtime may be negative when the printing operations are performed for thefirst time.

Preferably, the period may be determined on the basis of the lifecycleof the printer.

Preferably, when the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative,the control unit may control the predetermined preparation operations soas to suit to a case where the printing operations are performed in theprinter for the first time.

Preferably, the printer may be an ink-jet printer, which performsprinting by ejecting ink onto the recording medium by using an ink-jethead that ejects ink, and the predetermined preparation operations maybe cleaning operations performed by the ink-jet head.

Preferably, the control unit may control the ink-jet head to perform thecleaning operations corresponding to the elapsed time.

Preferably, the printer may further comprise a table that defines thecleaning operations corresponding to the elapsed time, and the controlunit may refer to the table on the basis of the elapsed time and mayselect the cleaning operations.

Preferably, the printer may further comprise a preliminary ejection unitfor performing cleaning operations by making the ink-jet head eject theink and a suction unit for performing ink discharge by applying asuction to the ink-jet head. The control unit may perform the cleaningoperations corresponding to the elapsed time by using the preliminaryejection means and the suction means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for controlling a printer for performing printing operations ona recording medium on the basis of data transmitted from an informationprocessing apparatus and predetermined preparation operations before theprinting operations are performed. The method comprises the step ofreceiving first time information about the current time from theinformation processing apparatus. The method also includes a step ofcalculating time that elapsed between the time indicated by the firsttime information, representing the current time, and a time indicated bysecond time information, representing the time when the predeterminedpreparation operations were last performed. The second time informationis stored in the storing unit of the printer. The method furthercomprises the steps of preparing by controlling and performing thepredetermined preparation operations on the basis of the calculatedelapsed time and updating the second time information stored in thestoring unit at the time when the predetermined preparation operationsare performed. The step of preparing is performed by controlling thepredetermined preparation operations irrespective of whether the valueof the calculated elapsed time is positive or negative.

Preferably, in the above-described method, the initial value of thesecond time information of the storing unit may be set to a time laterthan the shipment time of the printer.

Preferably, in the above-described method, the initial value of thesecond time information stored in the storing unit may be set to a timedetermined by adding a predetermined time to the shipment time of theprinter.

Preferably, in the above-described method, the initial value of thesecond time information stored in the storing unit may be set to a timelater than a period in which the printer is expected to be used, and thecalculated value of the elapsed time may be negative when the printingoperations are performed for the first time.

Preferably, in the above-described method, the period may be determinedon the basis of the lifecycle of the printer.

Preferably, in the above-described method, when the calculated value ofthe elapsed time is negative, the preparation operations may becontrolled so as to suit a case where the printing operations areperformed in the printer for the first time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda printer that is connected to an information processing apparatus andcomprises a program for giving the printer an instruction aboutoperations. The printer performs printing on the basis of datatransmitted from the information processing apparatus. The printercomprises a communication unit for communicating with the informationprocessing apparatus, a receiving unit for receiving notice of timeinformation transmitted from the information processing apparatus viathe communication unit, and a storing unit for storing the value of aninitial time. The initial time is set at the shipment time of theprinter. The printer further comprises a calculating unit for comparingthe time information and the value of the initial time and calculatingthe difference therebetween, and an updating unit for updating the valueof the initial time according to the time information. The initial timeis set to a time later than the shipment time of the printer.

Preferably, the initial time of the printer may be set to a time in thefuture determined by adding a predetermined time to the shipment time ofthe printer.

Preferably, the initial time of the printer may be set to a time in thefuture determined by adding a time as long as the lifecycle of theprinter to the shipment time of the printer.

Preferably, the initial time of the printer may be set to a time in thefuture determined by adding a time as long as three years or more to theshipment time of the printer.

Preferably, the program may be a printer driver and the printer mayreceive the time information from the information processing apparatusvia the printer driver.

Preferably, the updating may be performed at the time when the printerreceives the time information from the information processing apparatusfor the first time after the power of the printer is turned on.

Preferably, the preparation operations may be performed, the preparationoperations being required for performing printing corresponding to thecalculated difference.

Preferably, the printer may be an ink-jet printer, and the preparationoperations may be any one of ink-suction recovery, preliminary ejection,preliminary heating of a fuser, aligning of a stepping motor, registerprocessing of a printer head on the basis of the standard positionthereof, initializing of a memory such as a command buffer or the like.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda printer for performing a printing operation on the basis of datatransmitted from an external information processing apparatus. Theprinter comprises a printer head for ejecting ink, a recovery system forperforming recovery processing for the printer head, a memory forstoring time information, and a controlling unit. The controlling unitcontrols the recovery processing on the basis of the time information,and updates the time information corresponding to the time when therecovery processing is performed. The controlling means modifies therecovery processing on the basis of whether the time informationindicates a time later than the current time or a time earlier than thecurrent time.

Thus, when the user performs printing for the first time after he/shehas bought the printer of the present invention, the printer performsthe preprinting preparation operations and printing with stability.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the flow of processing procedures from when a usergives a printer an instruction to start printing until the printing isperformed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink-jet printer that can be appliedto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing the types of cleaning selected correspondingto elapsed time.

FIG. 5 is another table showing the types of cleaning selectedcorresponding to elapsed time according to the embodiments of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the attached drawings.

In this specification, “to print” refers to forming not only significantinformation such as a character or a figure but also insignificantinformation. “To print” further refers to forming an image, a design, ora pattern on a recording medium irrespective of whether or not they arepresented so that they can be recognized by people. “To print” alsomeans processing on the recording medium.

The recording medium refers to not only paper used for general printersbut also things that can accept ink such as a cloth, a plastic film, ametal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, and so forth.

The ink, which will sometimes be described as “a liquid” in thisspecification, should have broad meaning as in the case of theexpression “to print”. That is, the ink is a liquid that is applied onthe recording medium so as to form the image, the design, the patternand so forth thereon, or to perform processing thereon. Further, the inkshould be suitable for processing, such as consolidating orinsolubilizing of colorant therein.

The following is the explanation of an ink-jet printer, which is anexemplary printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink-jet printer as mentioned above(hereinafter referred to as the printer 200) according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

The printer 200 comprises a platen 5000, a paper-holding plate 5002, ahelical groove 5004, a lead screw 5005, photo sensors 5007 and 5008,driving-power transfer gears 5009 and 5011, a driving motor 5013,suction means 5015, a holding member 5016, a cleaning blade 5017, abody-supporting plate 5018, a blade-moving member 5019, a cam 5020, asuction-starting lever 5021, a cap member 5022, an aperture 5023, aprinter head, a carriage HC, an ink-jet cartridge IJC, and so forth.

The lead screw 5005 rotates in synchronization with the driving motor5013, which rotates in normal and reverse directions, via thedriving-power transfer gears 5009 and 5011. The carriage HC has a pin(not shown) that hitches and fits into the helical groove 5004, andreciprocates in the a and b directions shown in the drawing insynchronization with the rotation of the lead screw 5005. On thecarriage HC, the ink-jet cartridge IJC is mounted. The paper-holdingplate 5002 presses paper against the platen 5000 along the movingdirections of the carriage HC. The photo sensors 5007 and 5008 arehome-position detection means, which perform confirmation of theexistence of the lever 5006 in their corresponding areas, switching therotating direction of the motor 5013, and so forth. The holding member5016 holds the cap member 5022, which caps the front of the printerhead. The suction means 5015 sucks the ink in the cap member 5022 viathe aperture 5023 for suction recovery of the printer head. Theblade-moving member 5019 allows the cleaning blade 5017 to moveback-and-forth. The cleaning blade 5017 and the blade-moving member 5019are supported by the body-supporting plate 5018. Of course, a commonlyused cleaning blade can also be used as the cleaning blade 5017.

The suction-starting lever 5021 for the suction recovery moves insynchronization with the movement of the cam 5020, which hitches andfits into the carriage HC. The movement of the suction-starting lever5021 can be controlled by a known method such as clutching ordeclutching the driving motor 5013 so as to switch the driving powerthereof.

When the carriage HC is in the home position, the capping operation(hereinafter referred to as the capping), the cleaning, and the suctionrecovery are performed on each corresponding part by the operation ofthe lead screw 5005.

FIG. 1 illustrates a host 100 and the printer 200. The host 100comprises an application 101, a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) 102, anenhanced metafile (EMF) 103, a spooler 104, and a print driver 105. Theprinter 200 comprises a receiving buffer 201, a data translation section202, a print-data developing section 203, a printer control section 204,a print buffer 205, and a printing section 206.

With reference to the drawing, processing procedures performed in thehost 100 and the printer 200 will be described in order. A personalcomputer (hereinafter referred to as the PC) that uses Windows 95 ofMicrosoft Corporation as its operating system will be described as anexample of the host 100, which sends data to the printer 200.

When the user operates the host apparatus 100 by giving it aninstruction to perform printing, the application 101, which operates onthe operating system thereof, requests the GDI 102 for a device context(DC) by using Create Enhanced Metafile (EMF) AIP and makes the EMF 103.The EMF 103 is translated by the spooler 104, and is transmitted to theprinter driver 105 as a print job. In the printer drier 105, processingprocedures such as color processing, rasterizing, and binarizing areperformed, and the EMF 103 is converted to a printer command and istransmitted to the printer 200.

Generally, when the printer 200 receives data from the host 100, thedata is stored in the receiving buffer 201. The data translation section202 retrieves the data from the receiving buffer 201, translates it, andtransmits it to the corresponding processing section. When the data isrelated to printing, the data is transmitted to the print-datadeveloping section 203 and is developed to image data. The developedimage data is stored in the print buffer 205. When the amount of thestored data becomes as much as a band required for one scan, theprinting section 206 starts paper feeding and printing.

The head of an ink-jet printer such as the printer 200 shown in FIG. 2needs cleaning in order to maintain a high printing quality. Hitherto,the type of head cleaning was sometimes selected according to the amountof time that elapsed since the head was last cleaned. In general,ink-jet printers perform pre-processing procedures such as head cleaningwhen printing is started, that is, when the amount of image data, whichis stored in a print buffer such as the print buffer 205, reaches arequired amount for one scan. The head cleaning includes preliminaryoperations performed for preliminarily ejecting the ink, and a suctionoperation for draining the ink out of the head by suction.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing procedures performed by ahost and a printer. The printer performs preprocessing such as headcleaning according to the amount of time that elapsed since the printerperformed head cleaning last. The time information of the host and thatof the printer are synchronized. The printer is an ink-jet printerhaving the same configuration as that of the printer 200. The printeralso performs preliminary operations such as the head cleaning beforeprinting to improve ink ejection performance of the ink-jet headthereof. Further, recording means in the printer stores time informationindicating when the head cleaning was performed last. The timeinformation is referred to as the final cleaning time. Further, anelectrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) is applied as recordingmeans.

At step S1, the printer receives print data from the host, and is readyfor performing processing procedures for starting printing. At step S2,the printer determines whether or not head cleaning was performed fromwhen the AC power was turned on. If the head cleaning was not performed,the processing procedure at step S3 is performed, that is, the printerdetermines whether it received the time information from the host ornot. Incidentally, if the printer is a so-called NON-PC printer, whichis not connected to a personal computer, the printer cannot receive thetime information from the host, which is the personal computer.

When the printer determines that it received the time information fromthe host at step S3, the processing procedure of step S4 is performed.At step S4, the difference between the final cleaning time, which isstored in the EEPROM, and the print-data receiving time is calculated.Further, the time elapsed from when the cleaning was performed last isobtained. At step S5, cleaning is performed according to the elapsedtime calculated at step S4. The cleaning is performed with reference toa table showing the types of cleaning, each type corresponding to thelength of time that elapsed from when the cleaning was performed last.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the above-described table, which shows thetypes of cleaning. When the difference between the final cleaning timeand the print-data receiving time (hereinafter referred to as theelapsed time) is 0 to less than 24 hours, only preliminary ejection isperformed. When the elapsed time is 24 to less than 60 hours, suction Aand the preliminary ejection are performed. When the elapsed time is 60to less than 240 hours, suction A×1.5 and the preliminary ejection areperformed. When the elapsed time is 240 to less than 960 hours, suctionA×3 and the preliminary ejection are performed. When the elapsed time is960 hours or more, suction A×4.5 and the preliminary ejection areperformed.

Turning back to FIG. 3, the print-data receiving time is determined asthe printer time at step S6. At step S7, it is determined whether or notthe cleaning selected at step S5 includes suction. If the suction is notincluded, the processing procedure of step S8 is performed. That is tosay, only preliminary ejection is performed, and the printer enters aprinter-time determining state. Then, the flow of the processingprocedures stops at step S19. On the other hand, when it is determinedthat the cleaning includes suction, processing procedure of step S9 isperformed. That is to say, cleaning including suction is performed. Atstep S10, the printer time determined at step S6 is determined as thefinal cleaning time. Therefore, the final cleaning time stored in theEEPROM is updated. Then, the flow of the processing procedures stops atstep S19.

When the printer cannot receive the time information from the host atstep S3 for some reason, for example, when the printer is of the NON-PCprinter type, cleaning including suction is performed at step S11. Atstep S12, the final cleaning time stored in the EEPROM is updatedaccording to the elapsed time. Then, the flow of the processingprocedures stops at step S19.

When it is determined that the cleaning was performed after the AC powerof the printer was turned on at step S2, the difference between thefinal cleaning time and the print-data receiving time is calculated atstep S13. At step S14, the type of cleaning suitable to the elapsed timeis selected according to the difference calculated at step S13 byreferring to the table shown in FIG. 4. At step S15, it is determinedwhether or not the selected cleaning includes suction. When the suctionis not included, only preliminary ejection is performed at step S16.Then, the printer enters the time determining state, and the flow of theprocessing procedures stops at step S19. When it is determined that thesuction is included in the selected cleaning at step S15, cleaningincluding suction is performed at step S17. At step S18, the printertime is determined as the final cleaning time, and the final cleaningtime stored in the EEPROM is updated. Then, the flow of the processingprocedures stops at step S19.

At the time when the user operates the printer for the first time afterhe/she bought it (hereinafter referred to as the unloading time), thetype of cleaning is selected according to the initial value of the finalcleaning time stored in the EEPROM of the printer. In such a case,unnecessary cleaning operations are performed, or necessary cleaningoperations are not performed according to the final cleaning time.Accordingly, the printing quality is lowered. The reason of such aproblem is variation of the elapsed time in the difference between thefinal cleaning time stored in the EEPROM at the unloading time and thetime when the user operates the printer for the first time. Thevariation occurs because the final cleaning time is determined accordingto the time of shipment of the printer, or the time before the shipment,and the time when the user operates the printer for the first time alsovaries.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the initial value of the final cleaningtime at the unloading time is set to a time in the future for selectingcleaning operations suitable for the unloading time. The flow of theprocessing procedures is the same as in the case of FIG. 3.

When the user gives the host an instruction to start printing for thefirst time after he/she bought the printer, the elapsed time, which isthe difference between the final cleaning time and the print-datareceiving time, is calculated at step S4 as shown in FIG. 3. Since theinitial value of the final cleaning time is set to a time in the futurein this embodiment, the value of the difference or the elapsed time atthe time when the user performs his/her first printing operationsbecomes negative. When the value of the elapsed time is negative, thetype of cleaning is selected with reference to a table shown in FIG. 5at step S5. Accordingly, cleaning that is suitable for the unloadingtime is performed.

The table in FIG. 5 shows cleaning operations that are performed whenthe elapsed time is less than 0. Such cleaning operations are not shownin the table in FIG. 4. Therefore, when the elapsed time calculated atstep S4 becomes negative, it is determined that the printer is beingunloaded, and cleaning suitable for the unloading time can be selected.Thus, the time information of the host and that of the printer can besynchronized.

Further, in this embodiment, the initial value of the final cleaningtime, which is set to a time in the future, is determined by adding timeby as much as the lifecycle of the printer to the shipment time of theprinter. This lifecycle is determined or set according to apredetermined period in which the printer is expected to be used.Subsequently, the elapsed time calculated at step S4 at the unloadingtime at which the first printing operations are performed becomes lessthan 0 in most cases. Accordingly, the cleaning, which is suitable forthe unloading time, can be performed.

As has been described, when the printer is unloaded, the initial valueof the final cleaning time stored in the EEPROM, which is recordingmeans to store the final cleaning time, is set to a time in the future.Therefore, when the user gives the printer the instruction to startprinting, it can be determined by the elapsed time whether or not theprinting operation is performed for the first time after the user boughtthe printer. Thus, it becomes possible to perform the cleaning suitablefor the first printing operations. When the first cleaning operationsare performed, the time that elapsed since cleaning was performed lastis negative (the negative value, less than 0 hour) because the finalcleaning time has been set to a time in the future. By using the tableshowing the types of cleaning corresponding to the elapsed time, thecleaning suitable for the first printing can be performed.

Some of the known ink-jet printers store time information about theprevious cleaning and perform cleaning operations on the basis of timethat elapsed from when the previous cleaning operations are performed.In such cases, the value of the elapsed time is positive. However, inthe present invention, the initial value of the final cleaning time isset to a time in the future. Therefore, when the first printingoperations are performed, the value of the calculated elapsed timebecomes negative. Although the value is negative, preliminary operationscorresponding to the elapsed time are performed before the printing isstarted. Thus, according to the present invention, the preliminaryoperations suitable for the first printing operations can be performed.

In the above-described embodiments, the cleaning operations for theink-jet heads of the exemplary ink-jet printers have been described asthe preliminary operations, which are performed before printing isstarted. However, the present invention is not limited to theabove-described configurations but can be used to perform preliminaryoperations other than the cleaning operations before starting printing.

When the printer has a fuser for performing fusing by heating, or afuser for promoting the fusing by heating, the preliminary heating ofthe fuser can be performed as the preprinting preparation operation.Further, when the printer performs other preprinting preparationoperations, such as aligning the stepping motor and register processingthe printer head on the basis of the standard position, the presentinvention can be applied to such operations.

According to the above-described embodiments, the EEPROM is used as thestoring means for storing the time information about the time when thecleaning operations are performed. However, a battery-protected RAM orother types of storing means can also be used for the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to whatare presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

1-25. canceled.
 26. A printer for performing printing operations on arecording medium on the basis of data transmitted from an informationprocessing apparatus, comprising: preprinting preparation means forperforming predetermined preparation operations, which are performedbefore the printing operations are performed, with an initial value offirst time information being set to a time projected to be later thanthe shipment time of the printer; storing means for storing first timeinformation indicating the time when the predetermined preparationoperations were last performed; controlling means that (i) receivessecond time information indicating the current time transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus, (ii) calculates the time elapsedbetween the time indicated by the first time information, representingthe time when the predetermined preparation operations were lastperformed, and the time indicated by the second time information,representing the current time, and (iii) controls the predeterminedpreparation operations on the basis of the elapsed time; and informationupdating means for updating the first time information stored in thestoring means at the time when the predetermined preparation operationsare performed, wherein the controlling means controls the predeterminedpreparation operations irrespective of whether the value of the elapsedtime is calculated to be positive or negative.
 27. A printer accordingto claim 26, wherein the initial value of the first time informationstored in the storing means is set to a time determined by adding apredetermined time to the shipment time of the printer.
 28. A printeraccording to claim 26, wherein when the value of the elapsed time iscalculated to be negative, the control means controls the predeterminedpreparation operations so as to suit to a case where the printingoperations are performed in the printer for the first time.
 29. Aprinter according to claim 26, wherein the printer is an ink-jetprinter, which performs printing by ejecting ink onto the recordingmedium by using an ink-jet head that ejects ink, and the predeterminedpreparation operations are cleaning operations performed by the ink-jethead.
 30. A printer according to claim 29, wherein the control meanscontrols the ink-jet head to perform the cleaning operationscorresponding to the elapsed time.
 31. A printer according to claim 29,further comprising: a table that defines the cleaning operationscorresponding to the elapsed time; and wherein the control means refersto the table on the basis of the elapsed time and selects the cleaningoperations.
 32. A printer according to claim 29, further comprising:preliminary ejection means for performing cleaning operations by makingthe ink-jet head eject the ink; and suction means for performing inkdischarge by applying a suction to the ink-jet head, wherein the controlmeans performs the cleaning operations corresponding to the elapsed timeby using the preliminary ejection means and the suction means.
 33. Amethod of controlling a printer for performing printing operations on arecording medium on the basis of data transmitted from an informationprocessing apparatus and predetermined preparation operations before theprinting operations are performed, comprising the steps of: receivingfirst time information indicating the current time from the informationprocessing apparatus; calculating time elapsed between the timeindicated by the first time information, representing the current time,and a time indicated by second time information, representing the timewhen the predetermined preparation operations were last performed, withthe initial value of the second time information being set to a timeprojected to be later than the shipment time of the printer, the secondtime information being stored in the storing means of the printer;preparing and performing the predetermined preparation operations on thebasis of the calculated elapsed time; updating the second timeinformation stored in the storing means at the time when thepredetermined preparation operations are performed, wherein the step ofpreparing is performed by controlling the predetermined preparationoperations irrespective of whether the value of the calculated elapsedtime is positive or negative.
 34. A method according to claim 33,wherein the initial value of the second time information stored in thestoring means is set to a time determined by adding a predetermined timeto the shipment time of the printer.
 35. A method according to claim 33,wherein when the value of the elapsed time is calculated to be negative,the preparation operations are controlled so as to suit to a case wherethe printing operations are performed in the printer for the first time.36. A printer, which is connected to an information processing apparatuscomprising a program for giving the printer an instruction aboutoperations and performs printing on the basis of data transmitted fromthe information processing apparatus, comprising: communication meansfor communicating with the information processing apparatus; receivingmeans for receiving time information transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus via the communication means; storing means forstoring the value of an initial time, the initial time having been setat the shipment time of the printer; calculating means for comparing thetime information and the value of the initial time and calculating thedifference therebetween; and updating means for updating the value ofthe initial time according to the time information, wherein the initialtime is set to a time later than the shipment time of the printer.
 37. Aprinter according to claim 36, wherein the initial time of the printeris set to a time in the future determined by adding a predetermined timeto the shipment time of the printer.
 38. A printer according to claim36, wherein the initial time of the printer is set to a time in thefuture determined by adding a time as long as the lifecycle of theprinter to the shipment time of the printer.
 39. A printer according toclaim 36, wherein the initial time of the printer is set to a time inthe future determined by adding a time as long as three years or more tothe shipment time of the printer.
 40. A printer according to claim 36,wherein the program is a printer driver and the printer receives thetime information from the information processing apparatus via theprinter driver.
 41. A printer according to claim 36, wherein theupdating is performed at the time when the printer receives the timeinformation from the information processing apparatus for the first timeafter the power of the printer is turned on.
 42. A printer according toclaim 36, wherein the preparation operations are performed, thepreparation operations being required for performing printingcorresponding to the calculated difference.
 43. A printer according toclaim 36, wherein the printer is an ink-jet printer, and the preparationoperations are any one of ink-suction recovery, preliminary ejection,preliminary heating of a fuser, aligning of a stepping motor, registerprocessing of a printer head on the basis of the standard positionthereof, initializing of a memory such as a command buffer or the like.44. A printer for performing a printing operation on the basis of datatransmitted from an external information processing apparatus,comprising: a printer head for ejecting ink; a recovery system forperforming recovery processing for the printer head; a memory forstoring time information; and controlling means for controlling therecovery processing on the basis of the time information, and updatingthe time information based on the time when the recovery processing isperformed, wherein the controlling means modifies the type of recoveryprocessing performed on the basis of whether the time informationindicates a time later than the current time or a time earlier than thecurrent time.